High School Graduation Requirements
During the 2010 legislative session, the Florida Legislature approved new high school graduation requirements. The new requirements will be phased in beginning in the 2010-2011 school year. They cover primarily science and mathematics courses. Although the total number of math and science courses needed to graduate with a standard diploma will remain the same (4 credits in math and 3 credits in science), the specific courses required within each category have been revised. The new graduation requirements will take effect based on the year that students enter 9th grade. The new requirements are outlined below.
For students entering 9th grade in 2011-2012:
- Grade 10 FCAT Reading: Level 3 score required**
- Pass Algebra 1 and earn a Level 3 score on the EOC***
- Pass Geometry and take an EOC, which will be worth 30% of the student’s course grade
- Pass Biology and take an EOC, which will be worth 30% of the student’s course grade
For students entering 9th grade in 2012-13
- Grade 10 FCAT Reading: Level 3 score required**
- Pass Algebra 1 and earn a Level 3 score on the EOC***
- Pass Algebra 2
- Pass Geometry and earn a Level 3 score on the EOC***
- Pass Biology and earn a Level 3 score on the EOC***
For students entering 9th grade in 2013-14
- Grade 10 FCAT Reading: Level 3 score required**
- Pass Algebra 1 and earn a Level 3 score on the EOC***
- Pass Algebra 2
- Pass Geometry and earn a Level 3 score on the EOC***
- Pass Biology and earn a Level 3 score on the EOC***
- Pass Chemistry or Physics
- Pass another science course that is equally rigorous to chemistry or physics
* According to the Florida Department of Education, end-of-course (EOC) assessments will be very different from the FCAT. Students will participate in these assessments on the computer at the
conclusion of the specific high school courses. EOC requirements may be waived for some exceptional
student education (ESE) students.
** A Level 3 score does not necessarily remain the same from year to year. The score required to earn a
Level 3 on the 10th grade FCAT Reading test will be announced each year by the Florida Department
of Education.
*** These EOCs are currently being developed by the state, and will be field tested in upcoming years.
The minimum Level 3 score on these tests will be established and announced at a later date by the
Florida Department of Education
PLEASE NOTE - The Department of Education has a printable document on the web with the new graduation requirements and other helpful information: http://www.fldoe.org/BII/StudentPro/pdf/HSbrochure.pdf
